342 – HGL 342

342

Thanks to J’s efforts, the mess was quickly cleaned up. After locking the door of the last hospital room, the boy bowed to the Hunters to express his gratitude.

“It finished early because you helped. Thank you.”

“What’s the cause of the mass seizure?”

“That can only be confirmed when Master wakes up.”

“Seriously, I told you to build up your stamina.”

“I know, right? How can you manage being so weak~”

Taking advantage of the rare moment when Honeybee and Gyu-Gyu were on the same page, Jung-bin approached J. J was looking around the hospital rooms with his arms crossed. Jung-bin cleared his throat slightly and smiled.

“I thought you had gone back to your hospital room, but I see you here again.”

“Ah, haha….”

“You were moving nimbly…. It seems your body is really okay.”

“I told you, I just lost consciousness for a moment, but my body is fine. Being sturdy is my greatest strength.”

J scratched the back of his head awkwardly. His hair, illuminated by the fluorescent light, shone white. Hair that is gradually turning white. A kit to identify Mutants has not yet been developed. They are too busy developing the vaccine, and most can be distinguished with the naked eye.

‘Can I judge based on hair color alone?’

Perhaps sensing the observing gaze, J lowered his hand and subtly put his hands behind his back.

“……”

“……”

Jung-bin did not stop probing, and J tried to avoid him by turning his head from side to side. In the meantime, Gyu-Gyu put his arm around Jung-bin’s shoulder. He smirked with an excited face.

“What’s this tension? Let me join in~”

Jung-bin pushed Gyu-Gyu slightly with his shoulder and smiled.

“Assistant, Gyu-Gyu-nim says he will help with the cleanup. Take him and use him as much as you want.”

“Huh? I didn’t say that?”

“Is that so? Thank you for your help.”

“I said I didn’t say that? Hey?”

The boy grabbed Gyu-Gyu’s arm and began to drag him away. Gyu-Gyu was dragged away with a dumbfounded expression. Honeybee scoffed.

“Serves you right.”

Jung-bin fixed his gaze back on J. It may be Gyu-Gyu’s provocation. It may be a scheme to arouse unnecessary suspicion. But….

‘Variables must be eliminated as much as possible.’

The first principle of an Awakened is to protect civilians. Jung-bin held out his hand to J.

“I’d like to have a conversation with you for a moment, would that be alright?”

“……”

J looked around as if asking for help and saw Honeybee. She looked flustered, looking back and forth between Jung-bin and J, then avoided eye contact and rattled off words.

“Oh! Look at my mind, um, I have an urgent appointment? I’ll go first?”

“Honeybee-ssi!”

“Yes, it was nice to see you too! See you next time!”

Honeybee disappeared like the wind. Only the two of them remained. Jung-bin pressured him with a smiling face, and eventually J trudged behind Jung-bin.

Looking for a secluded place where no one could hear, they ended up going up to the rooftop. Jung-bin pulled open the loosely locked door. There was a helicopter landing pad on the roof of the Seowon Guild. Jung-bin headed for the railing, passing the large H mark. J also followed, dragging his feet.

Eight years had passed. Jung-bin took another look at the young man who slumped down on the green floor. As if he had avoided time, J was similar to how he was back then, except for his hair color and clothes.

“Is it okay if I smoke?”

“Yes, please do as you please.”

“Thank you.”

Jung-bin took out a cigarette case from his jacket pocket. As he put a cigarette in his mouth, J blurted out.

“You still haven’t quit.”

“Haha, it’s hard to quit. Would you like one?”

“…No, someone is making a fuss about me quitting.”

J smacked his lips and turned his head. Who could it be? Who dared to make a fuss about J quitting smoking? Jung-bin lit a cigarette and took a deep puff. The answer came without much thought. Who else but Lee Sa-young. Suddenly, his spine went cold.

J, rampaging out of control in the Jongno Underground Dungeon, was more terrifying than anything else.

The hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly. Gyu-Gyu’s voice, devoid of laughter, echoed in his head.

‘I don’t even want to imagine what will happen when J becomes a Monster~….’

Jung-bin felt the same way. Even if a civilian Mutates, they are this threatening, but what if a Hunter, even the strongest Awakened, turns into a Monster?

“…J-nim.”

“Yes.”

His mouth did not open easily. Should he ask? Would he give a proper answer if he asked? If he doesn’t trust me, wouldn’t it be useless to ask?

In the end, Jung-bin blurted out a random question instead of a direct one.

“Did you file your taxes?”

“…Pardon?”

“…No, never mind. I misspoke.”

“…Speaking of that, do people who die and come back to life pay taxes?”

Fortunately, J took it as a joke. Jung-bin rubbed his mouth and smiled slightly.

“Probably. You should consult a tax accountant for more details.”

J grumbled, resting his chin on his hand.

“Geez, in our day, there were no taxes for Awakened or anything.”

“Haha, many systems have been created in the meantime. Many laws have also been created. There are so many Hunters evading taxes.”

“It’s not all good when things become stable.”

“Well, it was wild back then. Of course, there were advantages to being wild. Do you know that there are now taxes on Mana Stones?”

“……There’s a Mana Stone tax too?”

“A fee and tax are charged when selling through the market.”

“Then, perhaps the Tomato Market is….”

“Ah, selling there is tax evasion.”

“……”

The atmosphere softened a little as they exchanged joking words. Jung-bin clenched the hand in his pocket tightly. He had apprehended many Hunters and interrogated many Hunters. He was someone who could get the information he wanted no matter what. But this was the first time he felt his eloquence was lacking.

J stretched out his arms and yawned.

“You have something to ask, right?”

“……”

“Just ask comfortably. Don’t beat around the bush.”

“…Then, J-nim.”

Jung-bin took a short breath and asked.

“Are you Mutating?”

J raised his head. The answer came surprisingly easily.

“Yes.”

Thump. Something heavy landed. Jung-bin asked again, hoping his voice wouldn’t tremble.

“…Since when?”

“I’m not sure, but probably… from inside the West Sea Rift. I haven’t known for long, though.”

“……”

“Eating white Monsters turns you into a Mutant. If a food shortage occurs, make sure people don’t eat Monsters.”

“…Inside the Rift, did you consume them?”

“……”

No answer came back, and the black mask did not reveal any expression. Ah. Jung-bin unknowingly added ramblingly.

“I’m not trying to blame J-nim and your fellow Hunters, I’m just trying to confirm the facts…. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“It’s okay. It’s in the past.”

J fiddled with his hair. The grayed hair resembled the color of white ashes falling from the sky.

“Fortunately, the speed is slow. If you want to be precise, I’m probably the first Mutant in this world, and other than my hair color changing, there are no other Mutation phenomena….”

“That’s… fortunate.”

“The things you’re worried about won’t happen.”

It was a confident tone. How can he be so sure? As if noticing the question, J raised his index finger and pointed somewhere. The finger pointed to the sky.

“I’m going to meet Doomsday.”

It was as light a tone as if he were going for a short walk. Jung-bin almost dropped the cigarette between his fingers. He coughed slightly and quickly asked back.

“Wait a minute, are you serious?”

“Of course. I can’t just wait aimlessly until that comes. If I can strike first, I should strike first.”

“But―”

“You know better than I do how much damage was done even when I only opened my eyes for a very short time.”

“……”

“I’d rather do something than do nothing and wait with my hands tied.”

“Even if that’s the road to death?”

“Yes.”

It was a firm answer. Jung-bin was speechless. How can he answer so immediately? It’s a matter of life and death. Moreover, hadn’t he already entered a Dungeon where death awaited him once before…?

Jung-bin calmed his trembling breath.

“Have you already made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

“…I told you not to carry all the burdens alone just a few tens of minutes ago….”

“Hey, it’s not like I’m going to do it alone.”

“Pardon?”

His eyes widened. J was already sitting comfortably on the floor with his arms propped up. As the ashy wind blew, his gray hair scattered like ashes.

“You have to protect the people while I fight.”

“……”

“Everyone does what they’re good at.”

J raised his head. Even though his face was not visible because of the mask, he could vaguely guess his expression.

“Division of labor.”

He was smiling.